Review Detail

THE BLACKWOODS by Brandy Colbert is both a YA Contemporary and Historical Fiction with multi-POVs, mainly between Blossom Blackwood and her two great-granddaughters, Hollis and Ardith. Blossom, through her hard work and perseverance, made a name for herself, and subsequently her family, but it wasn’t without many difficulties and tough decisions along the way. In the present day, as both Hollis and Ardith have their own struggles in the public eye, they can’t deny the space their grandmother carved out for them as Black women.

What I absolutely appreciate about Colbert’s writing is every time the POV switches, each subsequent storyline is unique and compelling, and I wanted to know what would happen next for everyone. I also love how we got to see Blossom’s path during her time intercut with Hollis and Ardith today. The two different timelines provided not only a good opportunity for contrast and comparison, but it was also fun to take a step back in history and experience Blossom’s life through her eyes. Her chapters are my favorite.

Many stories centered around Hollywood starlets often show them as out-of-touch or deeply damaged, but The Blackwoods are such a breath of fresh air in that they are normal people in an abnormal situation, all on a journey of self-discovery. Alongside that, Colbert expertly weaves many themes through the narrative, such as race, class, religion, and gender, and does a great job at making her primary setting, Los Angeles, come alive. There are some elements of the Michael storyline that feel as though they happen for plot convenience, and the chapters are on the longer side for a YA book, so there are fewer stopping points, but overall, THE BLACKWOODS is a well-written, enjoyable novel, sure to appeal to readers who want a bit of Old Hollywood Glamour, mixed with modern day celebrity culture and a whole lot of heart!